The RCMP have ended their patrols of the Morice West Forest Service Road after reaching an agreement with Wetsa国际传媒檚uwetsa国际传媒檈n hereditary chiefs.
In a Thursday news release, RCMP spokesperson Dawn Roberts said they are satisfied with the Wetsa国际传媒檚uwetsa国际传媒檈n hereditary chiefssa国际传媒� commitment to keeping the road open to the public during their talks with the provincial and federal governments.
The agreement was reached amid continuing protests and road and rail blockades across the country, including at the B.C. Legislature this week. The protests have been ongoing since early February in opposition to the Coastal GasLink, a 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline being built through Wetsa国际传媒檚uwetsa国际传媒檈n traditional lands.
READ MORE:
Talks are expected to begin later today with the five hereditary chiefs and Canadasa国际传媒檚 Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and her provincial counterpart, B.C. Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser.
Coastal GasLink said it would pause construction on the pipeline for two days to give the talks the best chance of success.
sa国际传媒淲e fully support the efforts of all parties and are committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the current issues,sa国际传媒� reads a statement on the companysa国际传媒檚 website.
Members of the Wetsa国际传媒檚uwetsa国际传媒檈n Rangers will patrol the road during the talks and report to the RCMP on whether it remains clear of obstructions.
sa国际传媒淭he RCMP has confirmed that patrols along the Morice West Forest Service Road will cease during the period of discussions with the government representatives,sa国际传媒� Roberts said. sa国际传媒淭he RCMP has agreed not to patrol the road unless there is an emergency call for service, such as a motor vehicle accident with injuries.sa国际传媒�
Removing the RCMP presence from the service road was a key condition for the hereditary chiefs to enter talks with the provincial and federal governments over their opposition to the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
Once those talks begin and the hereditary chiefs are satisfied with the progress, itsa国际传媒檚 expected they will issue a request for supporters to remove all rail blockades in Canada erected in support of the chiefs.
The RCMP closed its mobile office on the road Feb. 21 and moved its officers to the nearby detachment in Houston, but kept up daily patrols of the service road.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
Like us on and follow us on .
